My pride and my grief: For my sister...A Jaime Lannister Story

Ch-1

Joanna strained and moaned, struggling to give birth. 'Joanna!' someone was shouting. 'Joanna!' Tywin, she thought. She opened her eyes, which were shut tight in pain, and the spasms stopped, mercifully. Joanna sighed, relieved. She heard lusty cries and glimpsed two newborn babes. Joanna smiled. My children. She heard footsteps and glanced up. Tywin was standing there, looking anxious. 'Two healthy children for you, my lord.' she whispered. His face cleared and a proud smile slowly settled on his features. At that time, the wet nurse entered, carrying the children, and handed them to Joanna. They were sleeping, arms entwined, tiny and wondrously beautiful. We came into this world together, they seemed to be saying. She held them tenderly in her arms. 'What shall we name them?' she asked. 'Jaime for the boy and Cersei for the girl.' he told her, without missing a beat. Jaime and Cersei opened their eyes and gurgled. Such beautiful eyes, she thought. 'Well, Tywin' she quipped, 'they already seem to like their names.' Tywin nodded, but his expression changed. 'What is it?' she asked, concerned. 'I need to go back to King's Landing.' Tywin replied. His mouth hardened at the prospect. She noticed the subtle changes, the hard glint of his green-gold eyes. 'What is the matter, Tywin?' she asked. 'Is aught amiss?' He nodded, and left abruptly. Joanna sighed. Her husband was a man of few words, but she had never seen him like this. Joanna fretted about it for a while, wondering what could have happened, but, eventually, exhausted, she closed her eyes and fell into a fitful and dreamless sleep.